John Keats, Ode to Autumn:
“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun”
September marks the end of summer and the start of autumn; and while it has been warm (and mostly dry) after our wet and cool summer, it has nevertheless brought a chill wind to the leading contractors fined by the OFT.
But will global warming mean we are in for more warm summers? With the Prime Minister’s trip to the UN to witness China’s shift in policy on the need to reduce carbon emissions, it will be back to school (heads down and hard work) prior to the Copenhagen round of the UN climate change process.
Other “highlights” this month, in no particular order, include:
- The profile of public procurement kept high, but not necessarily for the right reasons.
- Good news from the ODA. Work at the site for the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2012 is progressing well and the ODA is eager to tell everyone about its successes so for. Even those who visit the site are impressed.
- Speculation growing over who will be appointed to the role of Chief Construction Adviser.
- The launch of a consultation on corruption.
Other items in the news included health and safety, the Building Regulations (Part G and Part J), building control services and the environment (sustainable construction and waste).
PLC Construction completed the mammoth task of reviewing the detailed changes to the JCT Design and Build Contract, 2005 edition (DB05), introduced by JCT Revision 2 2009. Other new content this month included:
- A schedule of amendments to the JCT Standard Building Contract, 2005 edition, Revision 2 2009.
- Notes on guarantees and indemnities, the no loss argument, and the new Supreme Court.
